Prison and Prisoners
What is the impact of a criminal conviction and what does a criminal record mean for an offender? This chapter explores the effect of a criminal conviction, the classification of prisoners and people in custody, the process and reality of going to jail, the structure of prison and rights of the prisoner, available facilities and discipline in prison. A number of other areas are also discussed, such as; visitors, parole, and leave permits.
Effect of Criminal Conviction
What Records are Kept? The police department has an Information Bureau which records all court appearances, arrests and convictions for offenders 14 years and over, and for juvenile offenders under 14 years. These include traffic convictions. Separate records are kept of juvenile offenders by...
Prisoners and People in Custody
Classification of Prisoners The Director of Corrective Services to establish a Classification Committee for the purpose of classifying prisoners. Prisoners are classified according to their age, character, offence, previous history and sentence. The major principle when classifying inmates is...
Going to Prison
Everyone entering prison as a new prisoner will still be in a psychological state of confusion and trauma resulting from the imposition of a sentence, or the refusal to grant bail. The prisoner steps out of the van, which is already inside the prison walls. The sound of a series of gates closing ...
Prison
Prison Structure and Administration There are a number of prison institutions in Tasmania. Risdon Prison (maximum, medium and low security) The Women’s Prison at Risdon The Wilfred Lopes Centre and other forensic mental health facilities Hobart Remand Centre (generally for short te...
Prison Discipline
A person in prison is subject to the same legal requirements as anyone else in Tasmania. A crime or offence committed inside a prison is a crime punishable under the same laws as apply outside. Of course it is not so easy for a prisoner to take action when they are the victim. In addition, howeve...
Prisoner’s Rights
A prison is a place of detention and it is understood by society that the rights of inmates should be limited. However, there is an acceptance that the detention should be conducted with a degree of humanity and fairness and section 29 of the Corrections Act 1997 (Tas) sets out an extensive list ...
Leave Permits and Release
Length of Sentence In Tasmania, the courts will normally determine a period of imprisonment, and leave the period of the actual term to either the Parole Board, or the remission system. Amendments have been made to enable a judge to fix a minimum sentence before the person becomes eligible for p...
Visitors
Contact Visits Contact visits are now permitted at Risdon as well as Hayes Prison Farm. Contact visits are permitted in the women’s section of the prison especially if young children are involved. Contact visits last for 45 minutes and take place in the presence of a Correction officer. Box vis...
Parole
The parole system and the Parole Board which administers it, operates under the Corrections Act. The Board is a statutory body appointed by the Governor consisting of a lawyer and two other persons qualified in matters of sociology, criminology, penology, medicine or any other relevant knowledge ...
Page last updated 19/03/2018